Captain held as death toll rises to ten illegally carried passengers
Chinese cargo ship foundered with passengers trapped in cabin...



Chinese press report that the death toll from the capsized cargo vessel, named No. 926, has risen to ten.

400 rescuers are reported to be searching the waters off Shandong Province looking for an unspecified number of people.

Ten people were found dead in a cabin on the ship and it is feared more illegally carried passengers may have been aboard when it went down at 6.30 am on Wednesday.

At the time the vessel was carrying cargoes of cement and flour, reported Xinhau news agency.

Amongst the seven so far rescue are her captain and two members of crew. It is understood all three have been arrested on charges of carrying passengers illegally.

A count of passengers had not been taken, reports Xinhau, and added that some passengers had been given free passage from Changdao County to Penglai City.

It is understood that high winds prevailed at the time of the ship's foundering.